The History of the European Union

In 1950 Luxembourg, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands founded the European Coal and Steel Community. Their goal was to unite the countries economically and politically in order to avoid another war.

Then in the sixties the duties between the EU countries were removed, that was really good for the economy.

The Single European Act was signed in 1986. What was this act? This contract should be the basic for a six-year-program. The goal was to solve the problems of free trade on the EU´s internal borders, and it led to the creation of the “single market” (Binnenmarkt).

The completion of the internal market was in 1993 with the “four freedoms”: the free movement of goods, services, people and capital. Now the EU talked about the environment and treatment of common security and defense.

By the “Schwengener conventions” were in 1995 the passport controls in Europe gradually abolished. For example, this allowed young people to study in foreign countries.

The euro was 2001 the new currency in many European countries and one point for the cooperation between the nations. By the terror attack on 11.9.2001 the cooperation has been more strengthened.

So a small partnership of the economy has been a strong, cohesive Europe that deals with key issues (e.g. environment, finance, industry, agriculture, crises, foreign and security policy…)

→ 27 member states

Fount: www.europa.eu